1998 Handy Awards
My Picks by Delta Pickens' Leon McEntire

Well, it is time again to congratulate the W.C. Handy Award nominees. Of
course, we all have our favorites, but it would sure be nice to see Luther
Allison sweep the award ceremonies again as a final tribute to the late
great blues giant.

Luther was one of the greatest and most unheralded bluesmen on the scene.
With his triumphant return from France to join the Alligator family and
release three major CDs with his long time collaborator, James Solberg and
his band. Luther was bound and determined to spread his joyful music to the
world. He did that and much more.

James Solberg Band is up for best blues band again this year, they won
last year and will have a great chance of repeating their win based on
the strength of their performance on Luther Allison's CD "Reckless" and
Solberg's solo material.

Carey Bell and R.L. Burnside will battle it out for best male traditional
blues artist, and Carey's CD "Good Luck Man" on Alligator is up for best
traditional blues album along with some worthy competition.

Alvin Youngblood Hart, Keb' Mo' and Philadelphia Jerry Ricks are worlds apart
in their portrayal of acoustic blues but I think with Jerry's CD being up for
comeback blues album of the year, he is in a good position to walk away with
a Handy Award, at least one.

Super Chikan gets my vote for best new blues artist. And I think Sam
Carr should win Best Blues Drummer. Frank Frost, Sam Carr, and Big Jack
Johnson are competing for Best Traditional Blues Album and Best Comeback
Album with their Jelly Roll Kings album "Off Yonder Wall". They are
true delta blues legends that are very talented and yet so humble that
they would probably vote for someone else.

The extraordinary talents of the recently deceased Jimmy Rogers will surely
win him the award postumously, for the best reissue blues album of the year,
"Jimmy Rogers: The Complete Chess Recordings".

I am sure that homage will be paid to Junior Wells, another blues legend
that just passed. Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, were the original blues
brothers and Junior was a major influence on all who followed in his
flamboyant footsteps.

Again, congratulations to all of the Handy Award nominees and thanks for the
pleasure that you have given us over the past year. Good luck to all.

Winners will be announced April 30, 1998 during ceremonies at the Orpheum
Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee.